95 points - Wine Spectator "Displays beautiful aromas of ripe fruit, with currant, plum and blackberry. Complex and full-bodied, with soft, polished tannins and a long, long finish. This shows a deft hand in the winemaking. "
93 points - Wine Advocate "The medium-bodied 2005 Ornellaia shows plenty of delineation in its dark cherries, blueberries, spices, minerals and crushed rocks..... it does offer notable finesse and clarity in an understated style."
One could certainly make the argument for Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia in Tuscany’s Bolgheri region. This estate has a track record envied by wineries all over the world. The two top wines from the estate, Ornellaia and Masseto, are sought out each year by serious collectors and have received critical acclaim that matches the first-growths of Bordeaux.
In 2001, Wine Spectator named the 1998 Ornellaia “Wine of the Year” after tasting almost 11,000 wines from all wine producing countries. And in October, 2004, the magazine awarded 2001 Masseto its highest rating, 100 points. Demand today for the wines of Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia has never been higher.
What makes Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia wines so spectacular? The unique Bolgheri appellation, the micro-climate of the estate, rigorous attention to the vineyard, and sublime winemaking. Over the years, we have had people tell us that these wines are the greatest they have ever tasted. Tough to argue.
This was a very hot vintage in Tuscany, and all over Italy for that matter. We had to leave Florence in July because it was too much to bear, and headed for the coast where we stopped in at Ornellaia and at least enjoyed some cool sea breezes. Tasting the 2003 vintage, the vines must have enjoyed them, too.
Our advice: don’t think of these wines as Italian, or Cabernet, or a Bordeaux-style blend; what you are tasting is the Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia estate in Bolgheri. There is nothing else like it.
